Torpedo signal for railways



NOV- 7, 1944 H. L. BONE ET AL 2,362,347

TORPEDO SIGNAL FOR RAILWAYS Filed May 14, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 V+ Z y f7 13' [5627. fj Zb 260 35e J [9 $35552? Z 45 5 @gigi u N 34 20 53 L 521 m "fj//v/f/ 7 W24@ 23a/7 Z5 ya, 2415, l 7 I@ IX INVENTORS fe/benl l. 30129 and' Nov. 7, 1944.

H. L BONE ETAL TORPEDO Filed May 14, 1943 SIGNAL FOR RAILWAYS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 4 ffq, 19.9 43

24@ f7 Nid INVEN-roRs -znenf on@ and mzz JJ 067080012 Y ai 71H50? ATTORNEY Nov. 7, 1.944.

ToRPEDo SIGN'AL Fon RAILwAYs Filed May 14, 194:5 5 sheets-set 4 IKE/? ATTOREY H. I BNE ETAL 2,362,347.

H. L BONE Er AL TORPEDO SIGNAL FORY RAILWAYS Nov.- 7, 1.944.

'Y 5 sheets-sheet 5 Filed May 14, 1943 IIIIIII Patented Nov. 7, 1944 ToRPEDo SIGNAL Fon RAILWAYS l HerbertL. Bone, Forest Hills, and Kenneth J. J. McGowan, Pittsburgh, Pa., assi'gnors to The Union Switch and Signal Company, Swissvale, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania.

Application May 14, 1943, Serial No. 486,978

(Cl. 246-211) i 17 Claims.

Our invention relates to torpedo signals for' railways, and particularly to improvements inv torpedo signals 'of the type described in Letters Patentof the United States No. 493,482, granted to H. F. Clark onMarch 14, 1893. c l

As is well known torpedo signals are generally used in conjunction with a xed wayside visual signal at railroad intersections, drawbridges, sidings or the like, and they serve as a means to provide a supplemental audible warning to an engineman in the levent that he overruns the visual signalwhile it is in its stop position.

One object of our invention is to provide an automatic torpedo signal in which the part which A is adapted to bey struck by car wheels to explode the torpedo *has a relatively long lever arm, is relatively' free from friction, and is capable of withstanding the relatively large impacts rto which it is subjected in service.

l.Another object ofy our invention is to provide a torpedo signal in which the part of the signal adapted to be struck bycar wheels to explode the torpedo comprises the cover for the signal. Another object of our invention is vto enable 'the signal *cover to be elevated suiiiciently high whenfin the `liring position to cause all wheels striking it to crush the torpedo to a papervthin thickness,` and when in the non-firing ,position to be lowered sufliciently low so -that wheels which have become channeled by rolling'upon ,the rails will vnot strike the cover.

' Another objectof ourjinvention is to provide means for preventing yunwanted` tiring of a tor'- l pedo in the event' that -a maintainer vaccidently drops the cover while opening or closingit.

-Another object of .our'invention-is vto equip the cover with antirattler means which biases' the cover downwardly at all times both in its firing and non-ring positions, but whichat the same time enables the cover to be readily swung open for Vinspection and to subsequently be closed without interference from the antirattler means. A further object ofA our invention is to equip the signal with means Lfor providing at a distant point a telltale lindication when one of the torpedoesisred. Y .l v

According to our inventionthe signal includes a Xed support adapted `for`attach'rnent directly a rlng anvil and a torpedo slide. The torpedo slide is operabler by external power means vbetween a clear position in which a U-shapedv recess formed in the end nearest the rail aligns With a torpedo magazine formed in the body assembly, and a ring position inwhich the recess aligns vertically with a firing pin provided on the cover, and is operatively connected with the firing anvil by a lostmotion connection which moves the anvil toward the rail'toa position underneath the firing pin when the slide is moved to its ring position and-away from the rail to a position in which the ring pin willV clear ythe anvil when the slide is movedftol its' clear position. Movement of the slide to its'clear position permits a torpedo to drop from the magazine onto the ring anvil within the opening in the slide, and when the slide is. next moved to the ring position, the torpedo is Pmoved to a posi'-y tion` underneath, the -ring pin. The slide and the cover are interconnected'by suitable cam means which raises the cover to prevent the firing pin from interfering with the movement of the torpedo to or away from the -ring position by the slide. The parts are so proportioned that when the torpedo isv in the firing position, the liring pin will rest on it and the cover will then be elevated above the top ofthe rail to a position in which any wheel striking it will crush. the torpedo to a-paper thin=thickness, but that when the slide is in clear position, the cover will ldrop down toa non-ring position in Whichit will not be struckeven by wheels which have beto a track rail, and having pivotally attached thereto at the end farthest from the track rail a body assembly and an overlying cover'. The body assembly is yieldably supported at the end nearest the rail by' spring means under initial compression, and is provided witha longitudinally extending g-uideway which4 slidably receives f scription proceeds.

come channeled by rolling upon the rails. The coverv isconstantly biased downwardly by antirattler means so constructed that it will not interfere with the closingk of thecover afterit is opened by a maintainer.` The cover and the slide -are'interlocked by means -which prevents opening or closing of the coverexcept when `the slide is Ain itsclear posiiton. 'Ihe signal also includes a contact which becomes closedwhen the cover is loweredbelow its firing position, and which may be used'in' connection with a 'circuit controller-contact the position of which is vdependent upon the position of the slide to provide a telltaley indication at a remote point Y, whenja torpedo is red, or when thejslide is in its firing position and thereis no torpedo in vthe slide.

Other objects and Icharacteristic features of our invention willl become `apparent as y.the de- We shallgdescribe 'one ,form offtorpedo'signal embodying our n invention,Vr andi shallV then point out the novel vfeatures thereof in claims. j

-- and rail clamps Ii.

. signal shown in the. preceding views, a part of the cover being broken away to show the internal construction. Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of the signal as shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken substantially on the line V--V of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is aview' similar to Fig. 4 but showing the parts in the positions they occupy when the signal is ready to be fired. Figs. 7 and 8 are perspective views of the hanger I and rail clip B respectively forming part of the signal embodying our invention. Fig, 9 is a detail sectional View taken on the line IX-IX of Fig. 4. Figs. 10 an-d 11 are enlarged perspec- 4tive views of the bodyassembly B and cover` C forming part of the signaljembodying our invention. Fig. 12 is anenlar-ged perspective'view of the torpedo slide forming part of the signal illustrated they each comprise a central portion 6a which hooks over the base flange of the rail,

embodying our invention. Fig. 13 is an enlarged i top plan view of a Contact mechanism D forming .part of our torpedo signal. Fig. 14 is aside elevational view of the contact mechanism shown in Fig. 13 with the cover removed and a part of. thercasing broken away to better illustrate Similar reference characters refer to similar ,parts in each of the several views. p Referring to the drawings, the torpedo signal embodying our linvention is designated as a whole by the reference character A, and comprises in general a support i shown in Fig. 7, a body assembly B -shown in Fig. 10 and a cover C shown in Fig. 11. l l

The support I may be secured to the outer side of one track rail 3 of a stretch of railway track between anadia-cent -pair of the usual crossties 4 in any suitable manner, butgas here illustrated it is clamped to the rail 3 yby means of hook bolts The 'hook bolts' extend witlif considerable clearance through holes 6b (see Fig. 3) formed in the rail clips and through .vertical slots ib (Figs. v5 and 7) formed in later- `ally .extending vertically-disposed wings la pro- ;vided on the -forwardend ofthe support, and

each bolt is provided at theouter side of the height of rail, and to facilitate this adjustment lsaddles I0 are disposed in the slots Ib in engagement with the upper vsides of ,the hook bolts and set screws Il mounted in screw threaded holes lc formed in the wings directly above the slots are screwed into engagement with thesaddles. It will be obvious 'that by adjust-ing' the set 'screws the vertical position of the, apparatus with respect to the rail can be readily varied to 'suit it to any particular size of rail. After this adjustment has been 'made the set screws II may be locked in their adjusted positions by means voi jam nuts I2 as is obvious.

, The rail clips B may have any preferred construction but as best seen in Fig. 8, in e'the form and which central portion is provided with the previously referred to hole 6b through which the associated hook bolt 5 passes. The rail clips are also each provided with two spaced parallel side portions 6c which extend under and engage the underside oi the base flange of the rail, whereby when the clamping nuts 9 are tightened, the support is very rmly clamped in the desired .position relative to the rail. It should be pointed out that the rail clips 6 may be made in different sizes each size of which is suitable for use with all rails falling within a predetermined range of sizes. The body assembly B (Fig. 10) comprises an anvil base l5 secured by means of studs Il to the underside of a body casting I3. The studs I'I pass through clearance holes formed in laterally extending lugs Ia on the body casting and are screwed into tapped holes formed in underlying lugs Ia. on the anvil base. The body assembly is pivotally attached to the support I at its outer end by means of a pivot pin IS mounted in laterally spaced upstanding arms Id provided on the support I. The inner end of the body assembly, isresiliently supported on a coil spring 2l and is guided for vertical sliding movement by means of spaced confronting ears Ie (Fig. 7) formed on the confronting sides of the wings Ia of the support I. The coil spring 2l is mounted in a cavity If in the support I which cavity maintains the spring in its proper vertical position. The `ears Ie in addition to serving as vertical guides for the body assembly also overlie stop lugs I5?) formed on the anvil base, and the parts are so proportioned that the spring 2| will bias the body assembly upwardly to the vertical position in which the stop lugs engage the undersides of the ears.

Formed in part in the underside of the body casting IB and in pari', in the upper side of thev The torpedo slide is movable between an outerA ing I8. The torpedo slide overlies the firing anvil and is operatively connected therewith by a lost motion connection comprising a vertical pin t 28 extending through an opening 24a in the ring anvil and provided at its upper end with a head 28a disposed in a longitudinal slot 23a formed in the underside of the slide 23. lower end of the pin 28 extends into and cooperates with a longitudinal guidewayfI 5c in the anvil base I5. The parts are so proportioned that when the slide is moved to its clear position, the left-hand end of the slot 23a as viewed in Fig. 4 will engage the head 28a of the pin 2B and will act through the pin tomove the firing anvil away from the rail to the position shown in Fig. 4'

in which the inner end of the anvil is out of vertical alignment with the firing pin opening 21, but that when the slide is moved to its firing position, the right-hand end of the slot 23a will engage the head of the pin 28 and will act to move the ring anvilV toward the rail to the position shown in Fig. 6 in which it underlies th firing pin opening 21.

The torpedo magazine 26 as'shown is ofv tubular The wardly by a compressed coil spring 26a whichy isv inserted into the magazine between the cap and,

the upper torpedo to insure that the torpedoes will move out of the magazine into the opening in the torpedo slide when the slide is moved to its clearl position. It will be obvious that when a torpedo has dropped into the opening 25, movement of the slide to its ring position will move the torpedo to a position directlyl beneath the ring lpin opening 21. Furthermore, when a torpedo has been moved to its firing position, if the slide is then moved to its clear position, the torpedo will be retained in the opening by virtue of the fact that the outer end of the opening is slightly narrower than the width of the torpedo, and the torpedo will therefore be moved out of alignment with thei'lring pin opening.

The cover C overlies the body assembly B and is pivotally mounted at its outer end on the pivot.

pin I9 through the medium of bushed depending lugs disposed between the arms Id and the opposite sides of the body casting bearing. The cover is guided vertically'both by the lugs 30 and by finished surfaces 30a (Fig. 5) on the inside faces of the cover cooperating with other finished surfaces I 8b on the outside faces of the body. 'Ihe inner end of the cover is disposed contiguous to the outer side of the rail head in a position to be at times depressed by car wheels rolling along the rail I, and carries a firing pin 45 which extends through thefring pin opening 21 in the body casting I8 for cooperation with the torpedo to be fired.

The iparts are so proportioned that when the torpedo slide is in ring position with an unflred torpedo in the opening 25, the firing pin 45 will rest on top of the torpedo and the cover will then be elevated to the position shown in Fig. 6 in which any wheel of a car rolling along rail I will force the cover downwardly far enough to compress the torpedoto a paper thin thickness. When, however, the torpedo slide 231s in its clear position, as shown in Fig. 4, the cover is then free to drop downwardly to the position in which a lip I8d formed in the inner end of the body assembly engages the underside of the cover, and the parts are further so proportioned that with Athe cover in this latter position it will be lowered below the top of the rail suiiciently far so that it will not be struck even by car wheels which have become rather severely channeled by rolling on the rails.

When the slide is in the iiring position, and the ring pin is resting on the anvil, as will be the case after a torpedo has been iired, the cover will then be held in an intermediate position in which it may project a slight distance above the rail. In these positions of the parts, each Wheel passing the signal may strike the cover and each time a wheel strikes the cover, the spring 2I will yield to prevent damage to the signal.

Inasmuch as the ring pin rests on the torpedo to be red when the slide 23 is in its ring position, it will be obvious that it is necessary to elevate the cover whiley the torpedo is being moved to or away from the ring position. For this purpose, the cover is provided with depending cam Illesk 3| having oppositely inclined cam with' vcorrespondingly shaped` camV faces 32a formed on upstanding cam lugs 32 provided on the slide 23; The cam lugs 3I and 32 are so disposed that they will be clear of each other in both extreme positions of the s'lide, but that the cover will be raised suiiciently high in the intermediate positions of the slide by engagement of the cams to permita torpedo to move underneath the ring pin with some clearance.

`The upstanding cam lugsv 32 on the slide 23 are disposedI in longitudinally extending slots I8c formed in the body casting I8, and cooperate with the ends of these slots to limit the movement of the slide to the desired clear position. Movement of the slide in the opposite direction islimited by a shoulder 33 formed onythe slide adjacent its outer end, which shoulder cooperates with a stop shoulder 34 formed on the underside of vthe body as shown in Fig. 6. These stops are so dimensioned thatthe firing pin is just prevented from striking the inner edge of the torpedo opening 25 in the slide 23 when the slide occupies its firing position, and that only a very slight amount of movement of the opening 25r beyond the position where it aligns vertically with the torpedo magazine is permitted.

To prevent wear and to otherwise improve the operation offthe signal it is necessary to eliminate vibration of the cover when it occupies both its ring and non-firing positions. We accomplish this result by providing the cover with antirattler means comprising a roller bracket 35 pivotally mounted on a hasp bolt 36. The hasp bolt 36 extends through alignedopenings `I8f formed inthe opposite side walls of the body casting I8, and is provided at one end with a U-shaped return bend 36a the Vshort leg of which extends into a shallow opening Ig formed in the one side Wall of the casting I8 vertically below the asso- I ciated opening I8f, whereby the bolt is maintained with the return bend in a vertical position for a purpose which will appear presently. The other end of the hasp bolt is threaded for the reception of a ynut 31. Theroller bracket is formed with spaced side portions 35a connected by a web 35h. The side portions 35a areprovided at their lower ends with bosses 35o through which the hasp bolt 36 passes and which cooper-l ates with bosses Ish on the body casting to position the bracket 35 centrally of the body casting. A roller 31 is rotatably supported on a bolt 38 between the upper ends of the spaced side pora thrust member 39 riveted to the underside of the cover. `A compressed coil spring is interposed between a spring guide |87 formed on the' body casting and a similar guide 35d formed on the web 3512 of the roller bracket, and this spring constantly biases the roller bracket in a counter clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4 to the position in which stops 35e formed in the forward edges of the side portions 35a of the bracket 35- engage the outer side of the torpedo magazine 26. .The lower end of the thrust member 39 is curved in such manner that when the cover C is in 4either its firing or non-firing position, the reaction between the cover and the thrust member will exert a downward vertical force component on the cover sufiicient to prevent rattling but that the cover can be readily lifted upwardly in opposition to this component by a maintainer. The extreme lower end of the thrust member is curved in the opposite direction to that part which the roller normally engages and this latter curvature by the uesriepeeremmresa ssa to iocklthelnasp fin this Y"position In this position of the hasn thelug 4D cooperates Withtlieup'per erid'othe above 2the urine position. when 'it *is desires "to "raise the "cover above the vrin'g position toin- 'spect ftle signal, 'it is necessary fto remove 'the 'padlock and iotaftethehasp ina 'clockwise 'cli're'ctinsivivved Fig. 5 'to 'a position in which theme/attendeer the upper end @fnl-side f` Tlieparts are so proportionedtliat the haisp can only be rotated tothis 'litterposition when the pin is free 'to' e'n'tle'rlthe recess 44 in the "s'liie 23, 'ao that 'the recess '4t `win only 'align with the when Atlie slide barlrias`-been fnioved'far' enough tovva'tl its clear 'position vto Withdraw tlie'trpedo'froi'n underneaththe'iriifg pin 45. When thecov'r 'has' been raised 'and the hasp 4'2 is r'e- 1cover from beinglowered -farenough to permit the-ring-pin `to accidentally re r'a torpedo. 'ft Ywill ube seen, therefore, 'that 'it lisneUeSsar-y -`'for thefslide tobe 'in `the' clearrposition 'in A'order to Atry-open thecover. IThe'"padlock'liasp f'afseifves Iasa. mean-s' totl preclude' anyone b-ut'an authorized s-person iFrOm'oDening the Qcover.

Y'Trie ysliden23 may be -movedbetweenfits=Sclear iiustrate Erg. 1, it is @smeared by e rmi; 15u and .adjustsldie screw. 'jaw 15.1 with fthe rpiston mod 52 @i e lfir'ii'd pressure motor 53. Theiluid pressure motor'lfornrs nfo part A:of 'our present invention, and isof conventional A'construction yilceing pifovid'dwith ports at both ends lof ithe cylinder s0l that Zit "is l'doubl'e fasting. 'The supply 'of fluid pressure to lthe ini'tor is controlled by :a suitable valve mechanism V also of standard .constructio'n, lir'icludin'g a normal magnet IN effective when energized it@ acif'rnitliiuid fto 'the right-hand end 'of the rnotorfto thereby in'ove thepiston rod out -o the y"cvliifilr to its 'projected p'osition :and `rthus move ithe slide lfrornits clear ito its iin-ing position, and a lrverse fmaagn'e't FR effective when energized to ladmit'fluid 4:to the `opposite fendfof the cylinder to move the pi'ston rod into 'the cylinder to i-ts rtraotedrpositionfendthus' move 'the torpedo slide to ilts -clear p'os'i-tion.

Assooitedwith the fluid pressure motor )is 'a i'rouit'eontrol-ler 154, whichlmay :for example befsimilarfto thaitdescribedand claimed inLetters Patent of tlffe'United-States No.2,190;520, :granted on February IS, 1.9M), to Edwin G. Little. This circuit controller yis provided with an "operating sliaft 55 fwsor'm'ecte'd -by a crank -56 and .anadjustable llink 251 vito the piston- -rod 52 Lof *the luid pressure-motor 63, audincludes a plurality of conta'c'ts each -eontroiledbya diierent cam, tnecafms being individually adjustable :to enable the contacts -to lbecome o'pen or `closed at any 4desired position intheis'troke' of ftlieslide. These'con'tactg may be Vused Ito control 'visible signals for indicatin'gfthe AcoI-idition of lthetoipedo Isign'al in .a manner -Which '-Will lbe described "presently, iorfor a'ri-voth'er desired lpuifpos'e. Tire-wires leading :to and from the cir-'cuit controller' are carried through :at-sheathed conduit "51 'to a junction box jfvvl'iiehllatt'er lis'shown `connected Withia park- Way cable 59 and also Withanotli'er sheathed-conduitSla-leadngto 'the yv'alve mechanism 'V.

I-t is desir'ableto be 'a'ble tolindicate at 'airem'ot'e 'p'int, #suoli -as an linterlocking tower,y when a 'train 'rires a torpedo, to enable the 'particular trai-'in which loperated lthe v-signail to be identified. For this `purpose We lifave Iprovided 'the signal with 'la contaot yIInechanisrn 'Which is vvintenc'leli to be 'Iu'sed 1inconjunction ``vvitl'i one #of the contacts of the circut icontrollerid :as 'will be made clear presently. 'This contact 'mechanism Ialso :providesLa/mens for indicating thatthefslide :is in slide.

' :Contact 'mechanism is :arranged fte-be blte'dfto thezside of *thefrri'ain body .casting lINI, and :iis :designated as `a. Whole =by the 'reference character-1D. Asbestfsee'n in FigslS, 14 and I5, this :circuit controller .comprises 1an .auxiliary housing 60 closed by a removab-lescover-f'l. :Dis- .posed -mithin the housing '60 is a A xed f'contact :finger 62 .and :a .'c'ooperating movable monta- 31; finger $3 secured :respectively 'Pto :contact :support/SGd-andl 'The supports 64 `and. :65 fare insulated from Lthe Ahousing "60, `but are electrieallfy' connected with terminal posts '66 zand LS1, whereby! external felertricalconnections -`xvvith `rthe contact-fingers INmayfoe:readilyI-made. -The movable finger .63fis5provided1atlits upperend lwith a -curlved actuating member i630, which :ooopertes with an iinsul'ating :Contact .operating cam secureduto the lower end= of fan `operating .plunger 69. 'fllietplunger 469 Lis:slidablyfmountedin fb'ush- `ings 'Mdisposerlfinavertical opening 'H formed -in `fthe housing i60, and is `rcsonst'antly 'bi'a'sed 'ito en .upperposition .by-'meansfofA a compressed coil spring 12 disposed in the housing lill between end of the opening "H- The upper end of the plunger 69 cooperates with a screw 14 adjustably` mounted on a lateral extension I formed on the cover. The `extension serves to protect the contact mechanism from ice and snow, and includes an annular portion 15a which surrounds the upper end of a tubular portion of the housing 6G through whichv tubular portion the upper .end of the plunger 69 extends. Asshown the parts are so arranged that when the .plunger .69 ismoved to its upper position by the spring ,12, the cam 68 willengage'the curved end of the movable nger 63 and force it into engage- The relay R may be used to control a visible or audible signal or both. As shown, it is arranged to control ay lamp L and a buzzer E both of which are connected in parallel in a control circuit which includes battery X and back contact 85 of relayR. It follows that when relay R becomes deenergized and closes its back contact, lamp L will become lighted to give a visible indication that a torpedohas'been fired, and buzzer E will operate to give an audible indication. The lamp L will remain lighted and buzzer vE will continue 'to operate runtil one or the other or both of the ment with the xed finger-62 to close the contact 62-63, and the screw 'I4 is so adjusted that when the cover is in its ready to fre position with the ring pin 45 resting on top of a torpedo, the screw 14 willengage the upper end of the plunger and depress it slightly but not enough te open the contact. Itr will be obvious, therefore, that when a torpedo is fired, the downward movement of the cover which caused the torpedo to become fired will act.

through the screw 'I4 to depress the plunger and when this happens, the cam 68 will move out of engagement with the contact linger` 63. The

finger 63 is biased by its own resiliency to a 63-62 is arranged as` ay normally closed contact,

this contact could equally well be arranged as a normally open contact as is obvious.

Inasmuch' as the cover C is free to. moveto its lowermo'stposition both when a torpedo becomes red and when the slide 23 is moved to its clear position, it is necessary in order to distinguish between the clear and fired positions of the torpedo machine to employ a Contact of the circuit controller 54 in conjunction with the contact 63-62 to provide an indicationv` at a remote point of the iiring of a torpedo. One circuit arrangement for accomplishing this result is shown in Fig. 16 wherein the contact of the circuit controller 54 is designated 'I6-'l1 and is so yadjusted that this contact will be closed when the torpedo slide is in the clear position and will remain closed when the slide is moved toward the ring position until after the cooperating cam lugs 3| and 32 have lifted the cover C toits upper position. The contacts 63-62 and 1li- 11 are connected in parallel ina pick-up and stick circuit for an indication relay R. The pick-up circuit also includes a push button P and passes from a suitable source of current here shown as a battery X through wires 80 and 8|, the con-,- tacts 63-62 and 'I6-11 in parallel, wires 82 and 83, push button P, and the winding of relay R back to battery X. When this circuit k becomes closed, relay R picks .up and closes its stick circuit which passes from battery X through wires 88 and 8|, the contacts 62-63 and 'IB- 11 in multiple, wire 82, `front vcontact 84 of relay R, and the winding of relay R back to battery X.

v Once the stick circuit fo-r relay R becomes closed, .relay R. will remain energized until the contacts 32-83 and 'IB-11 both become simultaneously opened. This will happen whenr and only when the slide is inthe firing position and a torpedo becomes fired or there is no torpedo in place in the slide for some`other reason.

' the member and-to bevlowered sufliciently far contacts E53-62 or 16-11 becomes closed and push-button P is operated while such contact or contacts are closed. To cause this to happen, it is necessary for the torpedo slide to be returned to its clear position. l

Although We have herein shown and described only one form of torpedo signal for railways embodying our invention, it is understood that various changes and modiiications may be made therein within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of `our invention. y

Having thus described our invention, what we claim is: l. A torpedo signal comprising a support se cured to a track rail at the outer side of the rail, -a body assembly pivotally :attached to the outer end of said support and resiliently supported at the end nearest the rail by spring means mounted in said support, a torpedo magazine formed in said body assembly, a cover pivotally attached to said support above said body assembly for movelment between a'ring position in which the cover is disposed above the to'p of the rail and a non- 'ring position in which lit is disposed below the top of the rail, a ring pin securedto said cover, a gtorpedo slide slidably mounted in said Vbody member for movement between clear and firing positions and provided in its inner end with a torpedo opening-which aligns vertically with said torpedo magazine or said firing pin according as said slide occupies its clear orits firing position, 'a firing anvil secured to said slide below said torpedo opening by 'a'lost motion connection which moves the said anvil underneaththe firing -pin or removes it' from beneath the ring pin to permit the cover to drop to itsnon-ring position according as said slide is moved to its clear or iiring position,.and means for elevating said cover While said slide is'being moved to or away `from its firing position.v f

V2. The combination in a torpedo signalin' which a torpedo is'ivmovedbetween a iiring and y beneath the-iiringy piniaccording as said slidevoc cupies its ring or its clear position.

3.*A torpedo signalcomprising a .support securedto a track rail atthe outer side of'the rail,

6 adac-,suv

a body assembly pivotally attachedi to'. theiouter end' of said supportv and resiiiently supported` at the end nearest the rail'. by spring means' mou-nit ed in said support, a torpedo magazine: formed in said body assembly',A a cover pivotally attached tosaid support above said bodyy assembly for kmovement between a ringz'position in. which the cover is disposed' abovey the topf of the rali and a -atorpedo' openingv which. aligns vertically with said torpedo magazine: or said firing pin. accord ing as said slide occupies its; clear orA its: ring position, a firing anvil secured to said slide below said torpedo opening by a losti motion con-nection which' moves the said anvil underneath the 'firing' pin or removes it from beneath: the 'nring 'pin to permit` the. cover to. drop to its non-firing position according as. said slide is: moved to its clear or firing position, means for' elevating said cover while said slide is being movecfli'to or awa-y from its iiringv position, and; means toprevent said cover from being manually openedv except when said slide isrmoved: away from the firing, position. i

4'.. A torpedo signal comprising; a; support se.- cured to atrack. rail at the outer side of the rail, a body assembly pivotally attached to the outer end of said support and resiliently supported at the end nearest the rail by spring. meansl mounted in said support, a torpedo magazine formed in said body assei'nbly,V a cover pivotally attached to said support above said body assembly for movel ment between a ring position in which the cover is` disposed above the top oi the and. a non.- iiring position in which itis disposedbelow the tcp of the rail, a tiring pin. securedl to said cover, a torpedo slide slidably mounted in said body mem,- ber for movement between clear and iiring positions and provided in its: inner end with a torpedo opening which aligns verticallywith said torpedo magazine orsai'd firing pin according as'said slide occupies its clear or its iring position, a r'- ing anvil secured to said slide below said torpedo opening by a lostl motion connection which moves the said anvil underneath the ring pin or removes it from beneath the firing` pin to permit the cover` to drop to its non-iiring position accord-ing as said slide is moved'to. its clear or firing gposition, means for elevating said cover while said slide is being moved to or away from its` ring said slide and eiective to preventv opening of said cover by a maintainer except when said slide is moved away from the iiring position.

5. A torpedo signal comprising a support secured to a track rail at the outer side of the rail, a body assembly pivotally attached to the outer end of said support and resiliently supported at the end nearest the rail by spring means mounted in said support, a torpedo magazine formed in said body assembly, a cover pivotally attached to said support above said bodyassembly for movement between a tiring position in which the cover is disposed above the'top o f the rail and a nonring position in which 'it is disposed below the top of the rail, a rlng pin secured to said cover, a torpedo slide slidably mounted in said body member for movement between clear and firing positions and provided in its inner end with a torpedo opening which aligns vertically with said torpedo magazine or said ring pin according as said slide occupies its clear or its ring position,`

a firing; anvil secured to said slidel below said tormoves the. said anvil underneath the ring pin or removes` it from. beneath the ii'ring pin to permit the cover to drop. to its non-firing position accordingvas said slide isv moved to its clear or firing position, means for elevating said cover while said slide; isA being moved' to oraway from its firing position, and meansto prevent said cover from vibrating. V

6. A torpedo signal comprising a support secured to. a trackl rail at the outer side of the rail, a` body assembly pivotally attached to the outer end of' said support and resiliently supported at the end' nearest the rail by spring means mounted in said support, a torpedo magazine formed in said body assembly, a cover pivotally attached to said support above said body'assembly for movement` between a firing position in which the cover is disposed above the top of the rail and a nonring position in which it is' disposed below the top of the rail', a firing pinsecured to said cover, a torpedo slide slidably mounted in said body member for movement between clear and firingpositions and provided* in its inner end with a torpedo open-ing which aligns vertically with said torpedo magazine or said firing pin according as said slide occupies its clear or its firing position, a` fixing anvil secured to said slide below said torpedo openingv by a lost motion connection which moves the said anvil underneath the firing pin or removesl it frombeneath the firing pin to permit the cover to drop toits non-ring position accord,- ing as said slide is moved to its clear or firing position, means for elevating said cover while said slide is being moved to or away from its ring position, and antirattler means to prevent said cover 10 from vibrating comprising a roller bracket pivotally attached to said body assembly and biased to one position, a roller mounted in said bracket, and a thrust membersecured to said. cover for co.- operation with said roller, said thrust member being curved in such manner that the reaction between said thrust member and said roller due to the biasing force will exert a downward force component on said coverl sufficient to prevent rattling but that the cover can be readily raised above its tiring position in opposition tov this force by a maintainer and subsequently lowered into position without interference by said, antirattler means.

7. A torpedo signal comprising a supportse position and; means interlocking said cover and i l* cured to a' track Tail 217th@ 0111381' Side Of the rail,

a body assembly pivotally attached to the outer end of said support and resiliently supported at the end nearest the rail by spring means mounted in said support, a torpedo magazine formed in said body assembly, a cover' pivotally attached to said support above said body assembly for move,- ment between a firing position in which the cover is disposed above the top of the rail and a non-tiring position in which itis disposed below the top of the rail, a ring pin secured to, said cover, a torpedo slide slidably mounted in said body member for movement between clear and firing positions, and provided in its inner end with a torpedo opening which aligns vertically with said' torpedo magazine or said ririg pin according as said slide occupies its clear or its ring position, a iiring anvil secured to said slide below said torpedo opening by a lost motion connection which moves the said anvil underneath the firing pin or removes it from beneath the iiring pin to permit the cover to drop to its non- `flring position according as said'slide is moved to its clear. or ring position, and -means for elevating said cover while said slide is. being moved to or away from its firing position, the parts be,- ing so proportioned that when a torpedo becomes 'fired and causes said pin t0 rest on said anvil said cover will occupy an intermediate position in which it may be engaged by car Wheels, said resilient support serving as a yielding means to prevent damage to said signal when said firing pin is resting on said'A anvil and said cover is depressed.

8. A torpedo signal comprising asupport secured to a track rail at the outer side of the rail, 1

a body assembly pivotally attached to the outer end of said support and resiliently supported at the end nearest the railby spring means mounted in said support, a torpedo magazine formed in said body assembly, a cover pivotally attached fto said support above said body assembly for movement between a firing position in which the cover is disposed above the top ofthe rail and a non-firing position in which it is disposed below the top of the rail, a iiring pin secured to said cover, a torpedo slide slidably mounted in said bodymember for movement between clear and firing positions and provided in its inner end with a torpedo opening which aligns vertically with said torpedo magazine or said iiring pin according as said slide occupiesits clear or its firing position, a ring anvil secured to said slide below said torpedo opening by a lost motion connection which moves the said anvil underneath the ring pin or removes it from beneath the firing pin to permit the cover to drop to its non-ming position according as said slide is moved toits clear or firing position, and means for elevating said cover while said slide is being moved t-o or away from its iiring position comprising cam lugs on said slide cooperating with cam lugs on said cover. d

9. A torpedo signal comprising a support secured to a track rail at the outer side of the rail,4a body assembly pivotally attached to the 4tween clear and firing positions and provided in' its inner end with a torpedo opening which `aligns vertically with said torpedo magazine or said ring pin according as said slide occupies its clear or its firing position, a iiring anvil secured to said slide below said torpedo opening by a lost motion connection which moves the said anvil underneath the firing pin or removes it from beneath the iiring pin to permit the cover to drop to its non-firing position according as said slide Yis moved to its clear or ring position, and means for elevating said cover while said slide is being moved to or away from its firing position comprising cam lugs on said slide cooperating with cam lugs on said cover, said cam lugs on said slide being disposed in s'lots in said body assembly and cooperating with the ends of said slots to limit the movement clear position.

of saidl slide vto its 10. A torpedo signal comprising a support secured to a track rail at the outer side of the rail,

a body assembly pivotally'attached to the outerlow the top of the rail, a Iiring pin secured to saidv cover, a torpedo slide slidably mounted in said body member for movement between clear and firing positions and provided in its inner end with 'a torpedo opening which aligns vertically with said torpedo magazine or said firing pin according as said slide occupies its clear or its firing position, a firing anvil secured to said slide below said torpedo opening by a lost motion connection which moves the said anvil underneath the iiring pin or removes it from beneath the firing pin to permit the cover to drop to its non-ring position according as said slide is movedto its clearer ring position, means'for elevating said cover while `said slide is being moved to or away from itsiiring position comprising cam lugs o-n said slide cooperating with cam lugs on said cover, said cam lugs on said slide being disposed in 'slots in said body assema` bly and cooperating with thefends of said slots to limit the lmovement of said slide to its clear position, and a stop shoulder formed on said slide and cooperating with a stop shoulder on said body assembly to arrest the movement of said slidewhen it reaches its iiring positionl1, A torpedo signal comprising ya support se,

cured to a track rail at the outer side of the rail,

a body assembly pivotally attached to the outer end of said support and resiliently supported at the end nearest the rail by spring means mountedin said support,a torpedo magazine formed in said body assembly, a cover pivotally attached to said support above said body assembly for movement between a firing position in which the cover is disposed above the top of the rail and a non-firing position in which it is disposed below the top ofthe rail, a firing pin securedto said cover, a torpedo slide slidably mounted insaid body member for movement between clear and ring positions and provided in its innerfend `'with a torpedo opening which aligns vertically with said torpedo magazine or said ring pin according as said slide occupies its clear or its ring` position, a ring anvil secured to said' slide below said torpedo opening by a lost motion connection which moves the said anvil underneath the ring pin or removes it from beneath the firing pin to `permit the cover to drop to its nonfiring position'according as said slide is moved to its clear or ring.y position,means for elevating said coverwhile said slide is being moved to or away from its firing position, a contactsecured to said body assembly,` and adjustable means for operatingsaid contact when said cover is lowered a predetermined distance belowY its ring position.

` 12. A torpedo signal comprising ak support secured to a track rail atthe outer side of the rail, a body assemblylpivotally attached to the outer end of said support and resiliently supported at the end nearest the rail by spring means mount--` edin said support, a torpedomagazine formed in said body assembly, a cover pivotally attached'to said support above said body assembly for movementv between a firing position in which the cover is disposed above the top. ofthe rail and a nonfiring position in which it is disposed 4below the top of the rail, a iiring pin secured. to said cover, a torpedo slide slidably mounted in said body member for movementl between clear and firing positions and provided in its inner end with a torpedo opening which aligns vertically with said torpedo magazine or said firing pin according as said slide occupies its clear or its firing position, a ring anvil secured to said slide below said torpedo opening by a lost motion connection which moves the said anvil underneath the ring pin or removes it from beneath the iiring pin to permit the cover to drop to its non-ring position aecording as said slide is moved to its clear or ring position, means for elevating said cover while said slide is being moved to or away from its firing position, a contact comprising a Xed contact iinger and an associated movable contact iinger, said contact iingers being secured to said body assembly in cooperating relation but insulated therefrom, a plunger secured to said body assembly and biased to an upper position, a cam secured to said plunger and cooperating with said movable contact finger for operating said contact when said plunger becomes depressed, and means for depressing said plunger when said cover is lowered a predetermined distan-ce below its firing position comprising a set screw adjustably mounted on said cover.

13. In a torpedo signal including a cover which is depressed by a car wheel to fire a torpedo and a slide which is movable from a clear to a ring position to place the torpedo in position to be fired by depression of the cover, the combination of a circuit controller operatively connected with the slide and provided with a rst contact which becomes closed when the slide occupies its clear position and opened when the slide occupies its iiring position, a second contact which becomes opened when said cover is depressed to lire a torpedo, a relay, a pick-up circuit for said relay including a normally open manually operable push button and said two contacts in multiple, a stick circuit for said relay including its own iront contact and said rst and second contacts in multiple, and indication means controlled by said relay.

i4. A torpedo signal comprising a support secured to a track rail at the outer side of the rail, a body assembly pivotally attached to the outer end ofv said support and resiliently supported at the end nearest the rail by spring means mounted in said support, a torpedo magazine formed in said body assembly, a cover pivotally attached to said support above said body assembly for movement between a iiring position in which the cover is disposed above the top of the rail and a non-firing position in which it is disposed below the top of the rail, av firing pin secured to said cover, a torpedo slide slidably mounted in said bodyr member for movement between clear and firing positions and provided in its inner end with a torpedo opening which aligns vertically with said torpedo magazine or said ring pin according as said slide occupies its clear or its ring position, a ring anvil secured to said slide below said torpedo opening by a lost motion connection which moves the said anvil underneath the iiring pin or removes it from beneath the firing pin to permitr the cover to drop to its, non-ring position according as said slide is moved to its clear or firing position, meansl for elevating said cover Vwhile said slide is being moved to or away from its firing position, and means to prevent said cover from being manually opened or closed except when said slide is moved away from theiiring position `comprising a hasp pivotally at.- tached to the body assembly and provided with a vertical arm and a horizontal arm, said vertical arm being provided with a slot, an eye secured to said body assembly in a position to enter said slot when said hasp is rotated to one position, a lug on said cover disposed to enter said slot'l when said hasp is rotated to said one position and to move clear of said slot if said-cover is raised when saidhasp is rotated to another position, said lug being effective when in said slot to prevent said cover from being manually opened, means for biasing said hasp to its one position,

' and a pin carried by said vertical arm and cooperating with a slot in said slide, the parts being so proportioned that said slide slot -will align with said pin when and only when said slide is moved away from its firing position and that said hasp can only be rotated to its other position when said slot aligns with said pin.

l5. In a torpedo signal including a cover which is depressed by a car wheel to lre a torpedo through the medium of a ring pin secured to the cover, and a slide which is movable from a clear to. a iiring position to place the torpedo in position to be fired by depression of the cover, the combination of a firing anvil operatively connected with said slide and movable to a position below the ring pin or to a position in which it is Withdrawn from beneath the ring pin according as said slide occupies its clear or firing position, whereby said cover is permitted to drop a sufficient amount to insure that it will not be engaged by car wheels when said slide is in its non-ring position.

16, A torpedo signal comprising a body member attached to one side of a track rail and provided with a magazine containing torpedoes and with means for moving the torpedoes' to or away from ring positions, and a cover pivotally attached to and overlying said body member and movable between an upper position in which it will be depressed by car wheels traversing said rail and a lower position in which car wheels traversing said rail will clear said cover, said cover being provided with a iiring pin which cooperates with a torpedo in the iiring position when said cover is depressed to explode such torpedo, and meansfor permitting-said cover to be manually raised to gain access to said body member when and'only when all of said torpedoes are in non-ring positions.

' b-odyassembly, a cover pivotally attached to said support above said body assembly for movement between a firing position in which the cover is a ringanvil secured to said slide below said torpedo opening by a lost motion connection which moves the said anvil underneath the firing pin or removes it from beneath the ring pin to permit the cover to drop to its non-ring position according as said slide is moved to its clear or firing position, means for elevating said cover While said slide is being moved to or away from 

